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Stumpf, San Jac shut down Iowa Western

San Jacinto (Texas) College-North pitcher Daniel Stumpf delivers the first pitch of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series on Saturday morning at Suplizio Field. Stumpf pitched a complete game in the Gators’ 5-3 victory over Iowa Western Community College.

QUICKREAD

Game 1

San Jacinto 5, Iowa Western 2

Up Next: Iowa Western vs. Spartanburg (S.C.), 10 a.m. today

San Jacinto (Texas) vs. Neosho (Kan.), 7:30 p.m. Monday

By {screen_name}
Saturday, May 26, 2012

San Jacinto (Texas) College-North pitcher Daniel Stumpf nearly did what no pitcher was able to do to the top-hitting team in the country.

The sophomore left-hander was shutting out top-ranked Iowa Western Community College before a defensive mental lapse and a base hit in the seventh inning put the Reivers on the board.

It was too little, too late for Iowa Western (57-6).

The No. 8 Gators (38-23) scored two runs early and added some late in a 5-2 victory in the first game of the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series on Saturday morning at Suplizio Field.

“Daniel settled in and got the outs when we needed to,” San Jac coach Tom Arrington said. “We had one mix-up in the seventh on a come-backer and didn’t quite cover the bag. A base hit from the nine-hole guy gets a couple across, otherwise Daniel could have a shutout there.”

Stumpf (9-2) limited Iowa Western, hitting .414 entering the tournament, to two runs on five hits and stuck out eight in the complete game.

“I’ve got a pretty good fastball, but the off-speed’s been working for me well, especially at regionals,” Stumpf said. “My team’s been battling for me all year. I’ve been consistent battling out there putting up zeros.

“I worked on my off-speed today and spotted my fastball.”

Stumpf retired 12 consecutive batters from the second inning into the sixth. The streak ended when Grant Kay reached on a dropped third strike in the sixth, but Stumpf struck out the next two batters.

He hit a batter in the seventh, then the next batter hit the ball back to Stumpf, who turned to get the lead runner at second base, but no one covered the base. San Jac didn’t get an out.

Iowa Western’s Iseha Conklin made the Gators pay for the mental error with a double to right-center to score two runs before Stumpf escaped.

San Jacinto’s Galli Cribbs led off the bottom of the seventh with a double over Iowa Western’s left fielder, who had trouble tracking the ball in the wind. He eventually scored on a Justin Byrd squeeze bunt.

San Jacinto added a run in the eighth when Jarred Fancher’s popup fell into a hole in left field, allowing pinch runner Blake Goodwine to score from second for a 5-2 lead.

Iowa Western had a chance to score early on Stumpf when Brett Bass and Grant Kay each singled on the first pitch they saw. Stumpf came back to strike out Damek Tomscha, then got a flyout and a groundout without giving up a run.

“The first inning they came out of the chute swinging the bat,” Arrington said. “We’re looking at a situation with the three-hole guy up first and second and thinking, ‘What’s happening?’ “

San Jacinto jumped on an apparently jittery Iowa Western starting pitcher Tanner Krietemeier in the bottom of the first.

Reggie Wilson led off with a double to right center. Justin Byrd walked and Kirby Taylor reached on a fielder’s choice bunt.

Esteban Gomez followed with a two-run single up the middle.

“Bases loaded, you have to sense the importance,” Gomez said. “I was looking fastball outside all the way. I was glad to get that pitch. It was a great pitch to hit.”